Improvement in cradling-harvesters



UNITE STATES Para-Nt- BEIGE.

MILTON BARLOW, OF LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY.

lMPROVEMENT IN CRADLlNG-HARVEST ERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 3,763, dated April 29, 1856.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, MILTON BARLOW, of the city of Lexington, in the county of Fayette and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harvesting-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference thereon, making a part of this specification.

The nature of my improvement in harvestin g-machines consistsin so arranging the mechanism controlling the revolving cradles that by an eccentric, crank, or cam, or their equivlent, (secured to an upright fixed journal on which. the cradle-arms revolve,) I am enabled to operate on the cradles by means of a yoke or ring on said eccentric, through the agency of connecting-rods attached to the heel of the cradles, for the purpose of controlling the movement of the cradle, giving a drawing out to the blades thereof in a manner similar to that given it in the hands of a man.

A further improvement is in delivering the grain gathered in the inside of the cradle-fingers by a fixed rake placed on the journal carrying the cradles, by which the cut grain is removed therefrom, and, after being received on the rake-teeth, by a partial revolution of said rake the grain is suffered to drop in suitable bundles for binding.

The harvester, so far as the driving-wheel and its frame, does not materially vary from those now in use; butinstead of making use of the usual grain-platform, I employ an open frame suspended from the side of the main frame. It consists of a triangular frame, A B G, with a cross-piece, D, for supporting the outer journal-box of the gearing-shaft. On the extremity of the beam B is the swivel grainwheel a.

E is an uprightjournal, secured on a suitable plate fastened to the under side of the beam 13 and cross-piece D.

F is a bevel-cog wheel turning on the journal E by a long sleeve, 6.

G is a shaft communicating motion by bevelpiuion d to wheel F, it receiving its motion from the master-wheel by a pinion, b.

()n'the top of sleeve 0 is secured a turning plate, f, on which the hub of the arms H H of the cradles is bolted. In the space between the platefand the hub of H the eccentric Iis' secured on the journal E, so that the plate f and hub revolve on eachside thereof.

7c is a yoke or ring having a free movement around I.

m m are rods projecting from said ring or yoke, serving as connecting-rods with a pivoted lever, L, of the cradle. The cradle is mounted on a short lever, L, pivoted at boltn on the end ot'the arm H. I would observe that in my description only one cradle is noticed, but that in the construction of my machine I do not confine myself to any number, although I find that three constitutes the best arrangement. To the lever L is secured, by bolt or otherwise, the blade 0, and rising from L is the back bar of the frame of the cradle, to which the fingers thereof are secured. Instead of the points of the fingers and blade being exposed, I unite them all by a continuation of the upper finger, p, thus forming a grain-divider, by which the uncut grain is directed into the body of the cradle and advantageously presented for gathering as well as cutting.

M is a rakehandle, fastened by a set-screw and sleeve to the top of the journalpost E. It carries the rake-head q, so that the teeth thereof shall pass when the head is perpendicular between the fingers of the cradle in its revolution, and remove the cut grain therefrom, gathering it in suitable bundles. Then by means of stubs or strikers r r on the hub of H being brought in opposition to a projection,s, on one side of the rake-handle, the rake-headi's caused partially to revolvein the sleeve or socket, and thus permit the grain to fall to the ground by its weight, the rake-head being restored toits vertical position by a helical spring retracting it, a detent on the rake-handlearresting it in that position.

This machine admirably combines in one operation the cutting and gathering of grain, and its construction is simple and free from complex contrivances; is consequently not liable to objection of being out of order when most wanted.

The cut grain is retained in the cradles, by centrifugal action in their revolution, until it is removed therefrom, as each cradle in succession is presented to the teeth of the rake, from which, as before observed, it drops to the ground.

Having thus described my improvement in grain-harvesters,what I claim as myinvention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

Constructing and operating the cutting portion of the machine substantially in the manner described, so that by the use of the eccentric I, or a cam or crank as a substitute therefor, operating on the cradle, as set forth, when in combination with the means of delivering the cut grain by the use of a rake, operated substantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth in the foregoing specification.

MILTON BARLOW; Witnesses:

JOHN F. CLARK, J OHN S. HOLLINGSHEAD. 

